May is a great time to get out into the garden in Australia as the cooler weather starts to set in. Here are a few things you can do in your garden: (Jump to seeds to sow)
1. Plant winter vegetables: May is the perfect time to plant winter vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, and peas. These vegetables will thrive in the cooler weather and provide you with fresh produce for your winter recipes.
2. Prune trees and shrubs: Prune any overgrown trees and shrubs to keep them in shape and promote healthy growth. Be sure to remove any dead or damaged branches and prune back any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other.
3. Prepare for frost: In some parts of Australia, frost can be a problem during the winter months. Take steps to protect your plants by covering them with frost cloths or blankets, or by mulching around the base of the plants to insulate the roots.
4. Plant winter annuals: Brighten up your garden with some winter annuals such as everlastings, sweetpeas, and nasturtiums. These hardy plants will thrive in the cooler weather and provide a splash of color to your garden.
5. Clean up fallen leaves and debris: Rake up fallen leaves and other debris to prevent them from smothering your lawn and garden beds. Compost the leaves and other organic material to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. These are just a few ideas for what to do in the garden in Australia in May. Enjoy the cooler weather and take advantage of this time to get your garden ready for winter.
seeds to sow
If you are unsure of your climate zone check out the zone map.
Cool Mountain
- Vegetable: Broad Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mustard greens , Onion, Pak Choy , Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Spinach , Spring onions , Turnip.
- Herbs: Salad Burnet, Valerian
Arid
- Vegetable: Beetroot , Broad Beans , Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Cabbage , Endive, Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Onion, Pak Choy, Parsnip, Peas, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spinach, Thyme, Turnip.
- Herbs: Calendula, Catnip, Fennel, Lovage, Parsley, Salad Burnet, Tansy, Yarrow
- Flowers: Alyssum, Linaria, Marigold, Sweetpeas, Snap Dragon, Veronica
Temperate
- Vegetable: Beetroot, Broad Beans , Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chives , Lamb’s Lettuce, Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mizuna , Mustard greens, Onion, Pak Choy, Peas, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnip.
- Herbs: Agrimonia, Bergamot, Borage, Calendula, Comfrey, Dill, Echinacea, Heartsease, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marjoram, Mint, Mugwort, Nasturtium, Nettle, Oregano, Parsley, Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Salad Burnet, Sorrel, Tansy, Wormwood, Yarrow
- Flowers: Ageratum, Alyssum, Carnation, Catnip, Celosia, Chrysanthemum, Cornflower, Cosmos, Dianthus, Everlastings, Gaillardia, Gypsophilia, Larkspur, Lavatera, Lavender, Livingstone Daisy, Marigold, Native Iris, Nigella, Sweetpeas, Swan River Daisy, Rudbeckia, Snap Dragon, Stock, Valerian, Veronica, Wallflower, Wild Pansy
Sub-Tropical
- Vegetable: Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chives, Collards, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mustard greens, Onion, Pak Choy, Peas, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Silverbeet, Peas, Strawberry, Turnip.
- Herbs: Agrimonia, Bergamot, Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Comfrey, Coriander, Dill, Echinacea, Heartsease, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marjoram, Mint, Mugwort, Nasturtium, Nettle, Oregano, Parsley, Poppy, Sorrel, Tansy, Wormwood, Yarrow
- Flowers: Alyssum, Carnation, Catnip, Celosia, Chrysanthemum, Cornflower, Cosmos, Dianthus, Everlastings, Gaillardia, Gypsophilia, Larkspur, Lavatera, Lavender, Linaria, Livingstone Daisy, Marigold, Native Iris, Nigella, Queen Anne’s Lace, Swan River Daisy, Rudbeckia, Salad Burnet, Snap Dragon, Stock, Sweetpeas, Valerian, Veronica, Wallflower, Wild Pansy
Tropical
- Vegetable: Amaranth, Angelica, Artichokes, Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cape Gooseberry, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chinese Cabbage, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mibuna, Mustard greens, Warrigal greens, Okra, Oregano, Pak Choy, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rockmelon, Rosemary, Sage, Salsify, Summer savory, Winter savory, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spring onions, Bunching onions, Squash, Strawberries, Sunflower, Sweet corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watermelon, Zucchini.
- Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Burdock, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Chives, Coriander, Dandelion, Fennel, Feverfew, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Linaria, Lovage, Marigold, Marjoram, Marshmallow, Mint, Parsley, Perilla, Sage, Salad Burnet, Savory, Sorrel, Tansy, Yarrow, Valerian
- Flowers: Ageratum, Alyssum, Amaranth, Aster, Dahlia, Salvia, Snap Dragon, Sweetpeas, Veronica, Zinnia